Tripod-head-locking device.



V. PALUMBOS.

TRIPOD HEAD LOCKING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JANJG, 1914.

1,120, 43, Patented Dec. 15, 1914.

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l TRIPOD-HEAD-LOCKING- DEVICE.

- 7 Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 15, 1914.

Application filed January is, 1914. Serial No. 812,538.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, 'XTINCENT PALUMBos, a citizen-of the United States, residing at Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Tripod-Head-Locking Device, of which the following is a specifica tion. v

My invention relates to tripods of that class in which the member for supporting the instrument, such as a camera, isrotatably mounted on the head proper in order that the instrument may be turned to any desired position of. angular adjustment withouthaving to change the position of the tripod legs. When using a tripod of this class, however, forsupporting a camera it often happens that loading the camera after it has been properly focused, ori acci-' dentally giving it a sudden jar, will cause the supporting member to rotate slightly,

thus moving the camera out of its proper 1 position of angular adjustment. This angular movement may be noticeable and, if so,

the camera can easily be readjusted, although requiring an operation that should be made unnecessary; but when it is not no ticed, even though such movement be very slight, the result will be a photograph that does not include all objects as intended.

It is the object, then, of this invention to j, provide a device that will clamp the instrument supporting member and securely lock the same in any deslred position of angular adjustment, and one that can readily be operated without any danger of accidentally jarring the instrument. I attain this objectby providing a locking device such as shown in the accompanying drawings, in w'hioh Figure '1 is an elevation of the upper end or head of a tripod equipped with my looking device, such device being seen in side view; Fig. 2, a view from the left of the parts seen in Fig. 1; Fig. 8, a horizontal sectional view taken along the line w,y of

Fig. l with all parts above such line removed; Fig. 4, a vertical sectional View taken along the line av -g of Fig.2. with all parts tov the right of such line removed; and Fig. 5, a plan view of the tripod seen in Fig. 1 but With all of the legs thereof in their folded position and with the operating key turned to its inoperative position.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

supported on a bolt 7 head comprising the side wall of the At Tare seen the usual tripodlegs each having a centrally disposed extension 25 at its upper end engaging between ears 3), bent downward from the plate P, and pivotally; 0

0 connecting apair of such ear members 79, as shown in Figs. 3 and at. The plate P is secured by means of screws .to the underside of the head of the inverted'cup shape member or shell D, such base plate of theftriots d are providedin the I shell D to permit angular movement of the tripod legs. The instrument supporting member comprises a cap C which is rotatably mounted on the head of the shell D with the flange c of suchcap pod head, and S1 engaging outside of-the shell. Thetripod head is provided with a cen-- trally disposed vertically eXtendingbolt E having its upper end threaded for screwing 1 into the base: of the instrument to be supported, the base of such an instrument being indicated in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2. i This bolt E is provided with a shoulder so at approximately half way. of its length and below such shoulderit is made square so as to engage throu h a square'opening therefor in the depressed central portion of the cap C and thereby be caused. to rotate with suchcap. The square extension ene. gages, also, throughan enlarged openingin the head of the shell D and the plate and has a screw f threaded vertically into i the end thereof, such screw having an enlarged head which, with the shoulder on the; bolt E, holds the cap 0 against removal. It is necessary, in order to properly adjust the camera, if that is the instrument be ing used, that the supporting member 0 be quite freely rotatable, and, as it would be quite impractical and ofttimes impossible, owing to the angular position of the. tripod legs T, to adjust thescrew 7 after the camera has been properly positioned, I have provided alockingxdevice located at the side of the tripod head and now to be described. At B in Figs. 3 and 4:, there is seen a block engaging between two of the ear members 7) and located directly opposite one of the tripod legs T. This block B may be held in place by any suitable means such as two of the bolts 0 extending thereinto, or may be formed integrally with either the plate P or the shell [A stud 6 extends through an opening therefor in the shell D, is threaded into the block B and held against rotation. I

' f plate, V may be heavy by any suitable means such as the key 70. This stud b is threaded to receive the jam nut N and the outer {end thereof is afterward enlarged slightly to prevent the removal of the nut N.

The clamping or looking member V is, preferably, a rectangular plate having a hole therein to permit its engagement over the stud b and having its inner upper face roughened or knurled so as to engage firmly the knurled surface on the flange 0 of the instrument supporting member 0. This enough so that it need only engage with its upper end against the flange 0 of the member G in order to hold such member against rotation, although I prefer to make the plate out of comparatively thin material and conform it, as indicated in the drawings, so that it will 'engage with a springing action with'the upper end thereof against the flange 0 and the lower end against the shell D.

' A washer to is placed between the plate V and the nut N, and the latter is provided with a suitable operating member or key a which may be turned to the position inclicated in Fig. 5 when not in use. The looking plate V is movable longitudinally on the stud Z) and is prevented from rotation thereon by means of pins 4;, one on each side thereof, which extend outward from the block B through holes therefor in the shell '1). After the tripod has been properly set and the camera turned to its proper angular position by rotation of the supporting member C, the operator turns the nut N thereby clamping the plate V against the flange 0 of the member. C and thus locks such member against further rotation until the nut N has been turned to again release the plate V. A half turn. of the nut N is suflicient to force the plate V into operative position.

It is believed from the foregoing description that the construction, purpose and method of using the locking device are sufficiently clear to call for no further explanation herein.

What I claim is: r 1. A device for the purpose described comprising, in combination with a tripodhead and an instrument supporting member rotatably mounted thereon, a stud carried by said head, a member longitudinally movable on said stud adapted to engage said instrument supporting member to lock the same against rotation, and means for hold- Gopies of this patent may be obtainedfor ing said longitudinally movable member in such locking engagement.

2. A device for the purpose described comprising, in combination with a tripod head and an instrument supporting member by said head, a clamping plate longitudinally movable on said stud and adapted to engage said instrument supporting member to lock such member against rotation, and means longitudinally movable on saidstud for'forcing and holding said clamping plate in operative position. 7

,LA device for the purpose described comprising, in combination with a tripod head and an instrument supporting member rotatably mounted thereon, a stud carried by said head, a clamping plate longitudinally movable on said stud and adapted to engage said instrument supportinginember to lock such member against rotation, means for preventing rotation of said clamping plate on said stud, and means longitudinally movable on said stud for forcing and holding said clamping plate in operative posi tion.

5. Av device for the purpose described comprising, in combination with a tripod head and an instrument supporting member rotatably mounted thereon, a block removably secured to said head, a stud carried by said block, a clamping plate longitudinally movable on said stud and adapted to engage said instrument supporting member to lock such member against rotation, means carried by said block for preventing rotation ofsaidnlamping plate on said stud, and means longitudinallymovable on said stud for forcing and holding said clamping plate in operative position.

VINCENT PALUMBOS.

Witnesses Emma H. SCHULTZ, ELSIE L. MCDONALD.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

